Rose plant--Meipotal variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms continuously throughout the season attractive simple marbled Carmine Rose blossoms. The blossoms commonly are formed very abundantly and continuously and possess firm petals which detach cleanly. The vegetation is vigorous and the plant possesses a bushy growth habit. The new variety is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases, it exhibits excellent winter hardiness, it possesses decorative glossy foliage, and it is well suited for use as ornamentation in the landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of shrub rose plant of the present invention was createdby artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the pollination of the Maceye variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,985) and the Meirisouru variety (non-patented in the United States).The Maceye variety sometimes is known as the Eye Paint variety and theMeirisouru variety sometimes is known as the Nirvana variety. The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the Intersmatvariety (non-patented in the United States. The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:

    (MACEYE×MEIRISOURU×INTERSMAT.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 71 smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It is found that the new variety of shrub rose plant possesses thefollowing combination of characteristics:

(a) forms continuously throughout the season attractive simple blossomswhich are marbled Carmine Rose in coloration,

(b) forms blossom petals which are firm and drop off cleanly,

(c) forms attractive glossy foliage,

(d) exhibits a bushy growth habit,

(e) forms light green adult wood,

(f) exhibits excellent disease resistance,

(g) exhibits excellent winter hardiness, and

(h) is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry for manyuses. It can be grown to particular advantage as attractiveornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residentiallandscapes.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation carriedout in France (e.g., by budding, grafting, cuttage, etc.) from onegeneration to another.

The new variety has been named the Meipotal variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety described herein were two years of age and were grownon their own roots in the open air at Le-Cannet-des-Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1--illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2--illustrates a specimen of floral buds before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3--illustrates a specimen of floral buds as the sepals open;

FIG. 4--illustrates a specimen of floral buds as the petals open;

FIG. 5--illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of blooming;

FIG. 6--illustrates a specimen of a open flower - plan view - obverse;

FIG. 7--illustrates a specimen of an open flower - plan view - reverse;

FIG. 8--illustrates a specimen of an open flower immediately prior topetal drop - plan view - obverse;

FIG. 9--illustrates a specimen of a open flower immediately prior topetal drop - plan view - reverse;

FIG. 10--illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11--illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12--illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13--illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14--illustrates a specimen of leaves with three leaflets - upperand under surfaces;

FIG. 15--illustrates a specimen of leaves with five leaflets - upper andunder surface; and

FIG. 16--illustrates a specimen of leaves with seven leaflets - planview - upper and under surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology precedingthe numbered reference has been added to indicate in common terms thecorresponding color. The description is based on the observation of twoyear old specimens of the new variety while grown outdoors on their ownroots at Le-Cannet-des-Maures, Var, France.

Class: Shrub.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 70 to 80 cm. on average when fully mature aftertwo growing seasons on own roots.

Habit.--Bushy.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: medium green, Green Group 143A. Adult wood: lightgreen, Green Group 143C.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andgreen medium green on adult foliage with glandular edges. Under surface:light green with a few prickles.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: oval to round.Serration: single and regular. Texture: rough. General appearance: denseglossy foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: dark lettucegreen, Yellow-Green Group 144A, with reddish edges. Under surface: lightgreen, Yellow-Green Group 146C, slightly suffused with a reddish tint.Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: deep green, Green Group 137A.Under surface: light green, Green Group 137D.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Approximately 1 to 10 flowers per stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green, more or less shaded with reddish-browncoloration and with some pediculate glands, approxiamtely 2 to 3 cm. inlength on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, greenish in coloration with a more orless brownish tint. Under surface: medium green with a more or lessreddish tint and with appendiculated edges.

Buds.--Shape: conical. Length: approximately 1.5 cm. on average. Size:small. Color when opening: Upper surface: pale Chinese Yellow,Yellow-Orange Group 20D, and broadly suffused with light Blood Red, RedGroup 45D, with a white eye. Under surface: on the outside of the petal,Blood Red, Red Group 45A, and broadly dotted with light Turkey Red, RedGroup 46D; and on the inside of the petal, pale Chinese Yellow,Yellow-Orange Group 20D.

Flower.--Form: simple, opens as a flat cup. Diameter: approximately 5 to5.5 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: paleChinese Yellow, Yellow-Orange Group 20D, suffused and/or marbled withlight Blood Red, Red Group 45D, with a white eye. Under surface: on theoutside of the petal, Carmine Rose, Red Group 52B, suffused withCrimson, Red Group 52A; and on the inside of the petal, pale ChineseYellow, Yellow-Orange Group 20D, tinted with light Blood Red, Red Group45D. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: Carmine Rose, Red Group 52B,marbled with white at the circumference of the petals. Under surface:pale Orient Pink, Red Group 36D, more or less suffused with CarmineRose, Red Group 52D. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: CarmineRose, Red Group 52D, marbled with white at the circumference of thepetals. Under surface: pale Orient Pink, Red Group 36D, more or lesssuffused with Carmine Rose, Red Group 52D. Fragrance: slight. Lastingquality: long. Petal shape: flat with more or less indented tips and aslight undulation. Texture: firm. Petal member: approximately 5 onaverage. Petal drop: very good. Stamen number: approximately 103 onaverage. Anthers: bright yellow in coloration. Filaments: bright yellowand somewhat evenly positioned on the receptacle circumference. Pistils:approximately 25 on average. Stigmas: greenish-yellow and ofapproximately the same height as the stamens. Styles: more or lesstwisted, greenish in coloration, and sometimes fused together.Receptacle: medium green and reddish tinted at the dehiscence of theanthers and in longitudinal section it is narrow and pear-shaped.

Development:

Vegetation.--Strong, vigorous.

Blooming.--Very abundant and continuous.

Aptitude-to bear fruits.--Good.

Resistance to frost.--Excellent.

Resistance to diseases.--Very good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics:(a) forms continuouslythroughout the season attractive simple blossoms which are marbledCarmine Rose in coloration, (b) forms blossom petals which are firm anddrop off cleanly, (c) forms attractive glossy foliage, (d) exhibits abushy growth habit, (e) forms light green adult wood, (f) exhibitsexcellent disease resistance, (g) exhibits excellent winter hardiness,and (h) is particularly well-suited for growing in thelandscape;substantially as herein shown and described.